“If you know where you are from, it will be harder for people to stop you where you are going.” ~ Matshona Dhliwayo

Our roots are an intrinsic part of our identity. Besides being a reflection of our glorious past, they serve as a guiding light for a meaningful life ahead. When we love, embrace and celebrate our cultural heritage, it shows. It shows in the way we conduct ourselves and the way we define our personal style. In fact, our fashion choices largely determine how proud we are of our roots and how confident we feel about sharing that legacy with the world.

Here’s a clothing brand that’s keeping alive India’s rich legacy of beautiful handloom textiles. Launched on 20th March 2020 by Swati, Shrinkhla aims to preserve, protect and popularize the stunning craftsmanship of Indian handloom among fashion lovers across the globe. The brand ensures Indian weaves and their trademark designs are beautifully integrated into its clothes at a reasonable price range. Although there’s a deluge of fashionable outfits available on e-commerce platforms, you wouldn’t quite easily find an exquisite hand block printed attire in any of these places. That’s where Shrinkhla comes in.

How she inched towards her dream

Swati was just 22 years old when she decided to launch her own clothing brand. She used to work after college hours. The savings from that salary coupled with her father’s 40k got her started towards her entrepreneurial journey. Help poured in from friends and well-wishers – be it for model shoot, fabric purchase or workshop setup.

But what made her so sure about becoming an entrepreneur at such a young age? Swati says “I always wanted to start something of my own, while staying true to my roots. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been deeply passionate about Indian art and handicrafts.” So profound was her love for handmade weaves that she decided to start a venture that would reconnect regular buyers with India’s treasure trove of handmade block prints.

Swati adds “Nowadays, digital prints are everywhere to be seen. People don’t really understand the difference between digital print and hand block print and that upsets me.” One of the biggest motivations behind establishing Shrinkhla was to create awareness about the timeless appeal of handblock print that cannot be replicated by any machine with such precision and skill.

Shrinkhla : Little imperfections wrapped in love

Shrinkhla recognizes the enduring charm of handmade clothes and the level of effort and skill required to create such works of art. In an attempt to understand the nuances of handloom, Swati spent long hours with the craftsmen, learnt the skill and set up her own workshop.

The brand offers block printed suit sets, kurtas, palazzos, kaftans, dupattas and many more uniquely crafted outfits that are steeped in tradition yet contemporary in essence. Made of 100% premium organic cotton, the clothes are all created by hand with absolutely no assistance from machines except during the sealing process. Swati explains “At Shrinkhla, everything is done by hand. Once block printing is done on the fabric, we send it to our workshop in Delhi for stitching.”

Try out Shrinkhla’s soft cotton kaftans for exceptional comfort and classy look. Whether it’s a beach vacation or an outing at an historical place or a regular day at the office, these delightful kaftans are suitable for all occasions. Also, watch out for Neela phool loungewear sets that add versatility to your wardrobe.

Don’t miss the gorgeous wedding suits adorned with handblock printed, cotton flared palazzo and georgette dupatta with lace detailing that renders an exquisite look.

At Shrinkhla, most of the outfits come with beautiful, delicate neck detailing and some with frills on the sleeves or box pleated ghera, thus combining comfort with grace.

What’s more on the anvil?

You can place your order online through Shrinkhla’s Instagram page. With around 10k customers, Shrinkhla is fast becoming everyone’s favorite. Moreover, the future looks promising owing to the startup’s unyielding focus on product quality and customer service. When asked about future plans, Swati says “I want Shrinkhla to be a one-stop solution for everything connected to your roots be it lifestyle, apparels, accessories and so on.”

Nothing says bohemian like fringes, dream catchers and macramé. For the uninitiated, macramé is a crafting technique that uses knots to create various textiles. Since this art form has regained popularity in recent years, crafters and artists are coming up with innovative ways to take macrame beyond the basic plant hangers and wall hangings.

One such example is 40 year old mompreneur Bani who used the intricate art form to create a plethora of home décor products. During the global pandemic, Bani came across an Instagram page that offered classes for macramé lovers. At the encouragement of her daughter, she enrolled in these classes and found her passion as a macramé artist. Here she learned all the different techniques artists use to create beautiful products with the help of a few ropes. Bani was an attentive student and began perfecting her craft so that she could become a successful artist. After 2 sessions, she began her journey as an entrepreneur.

Whimsical Meets Elegance

“I was always interested in art and craft from a young age. But never pursued it professionally. When my children were all grown up and independent in their own lives, I was going through a period of stagnation. I wanted to start something of my own but did not have confidence to take the first step. My daughter encouraged me a lot to take up macramé as a profession and finally after attending online workshops, I began my venture Knot with Bani,” says the founder.

One of the most beautiful qualities of Bani is her love for animals and their wellbeing. Being an avid animal lover, she uses the proceeds from her brand to feed stray dogs and rescue animals from harmful situations. Her alternative insta page, My Indie Babies is dedicated to providing food, shelter and medical treatment to those in need giving the brand a heart and soul that sets it apart from the rest.

Knot with Bani is a one stop shop for Macramé products. It adds the perfect touch of whimsy and bohemian accents to your living space. With its bright and airy look, macramé products give a very casual and lived in feel to your home. Bohemian décor is all about nomadic and free spirited influences. People who love adventures and non-conformity would be especially fond of this kind of décor elements. Here you will find bags, pillow cases, mirrors, wall hangings, jewellery, planters and so much more.

Attention To Detail

“What sets my products apart from others in the market is the finishing. I am very particular about neatness and finishing in my products. So weather it’s the length of the fringes or the strength of the knots, I like to ensure that each product is perfect before it is delivered to the customer. I do not like to compromise on the finishing. The satisfaction I derive from presenting a good product is unparalleled,” shares Bani.

Knot with Bani began on 3rd June 2021 with a small initial investment. Bani’s sheer talent and determination to succeed has led to the brand garnering recognition from the audience. Since its inception, it has successfully fulfilled 52 orders and regularly adds new products to her repertoire of products. The brand ships across India and also takes orders through its Instagram page.

In the future, Bani wishes to set up her own brick and mortar shop wherein she can display all her products and constantly innovate with the art of macramé. “I want to continuously evolve and upgrade my skills to become the best macramé creator in India,” she signs off.

Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/knotwithbani/

Instagram- The Indie Gang (@my_indie_babies) • Instagram photos and videos

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/knotwithbani

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Macrame has been around for thousands of years but it’s only now that artists and crafters are reinventing this unique crafting technique that uses knots to create various textiles. Launched on 24th May, 2021 by Srishti Kataria, The Macrame House has breathed life into the age-old, handmade practice, making it popular among today’s younger generation. Backed by a team of five people, the brand aims to teach the intricacies of macrame to housewives, thus making them independent and empowered.

How Srishti’s childhood dream took off

Srishti began dabbling in art and crafts during her childhood. She fondly remembers those early days when she would deck up her room with colorful art stuff created out of her own imagination. This fascination eventually culminated into a lifelong passion, influencing most of her life choices. The Noida-based girl pursued her graduation from art college in Delhi University in 2016. Then, she went on to complete her Masters from Bangalore from Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology in 2019. After that, she worked as a design strategist for a few years.

It was during the turbulent times of the pandemic that a new chapter began with Srishti getting married and shifting to a new place. The artist in her took charge as the spirited 27-year-old went about decorating her new place just the way she wanted. From painting coasters to making wall hangings, she did it all on her own.

Her talent and creativity made quite an impression with all those who visited her home. Bowled over by her artistic skill and sensibility, they requested similar pieces to be made for them. That’s how orders started coming her way. Soon, with the encouragement of her mother and husband, Srishti started her own full-time brand, THE MACRAME HOUSE.

Knotting its way to success

The Macrame House boasts of a wide range of products, catering to home decor and fashion accessories. Besides offering a stunning macrame collection of wall hangings, coasters, and name plates, it helps in getting things organized with its unique range of baskets and boho organizers. In fact, macrame boho leaf and macrame crescent moon can be used as delightful wall hanging options, infusing life onto dull walls. Moreover, macrame name plates, knotted with quirky patterns, are a perfect piece for your home and kid’s room.

Since the brand focuses on creating eco-friendly and budget friendly products, it refrains from using chemical dyes. “We only use natural yarns in our products.” confirms Srishti. The Macrame House provides consultation for setting up a room corner and boho theme in your house within your desired budget.

The brand’s Kauna grass collection, made by the skilled, local artisans of Manipur, is handcrafted from eco-friendly and sustainable natural fibers. Watch how Kauna grass planters add aesthetic appeal to your home while handwoven kauna grass baskets merge with all kinds of home decor and provide voluminous storage for your essentials.

The Macrame House products serve as ideal gifting options for your loved ones. You can place orders online via its Instagram page. The brand has worked with celebrities like Karishma Tanna and with more than 500 orders to its credit, The Macrame House is here to stay.

Road map for the future

When asked about the startup’s future prospects, Srishti says “We want to open The Macrame House stores across all major cities of India. We intend to go global and make our presence felt everywhere.”

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/the.macramehouse/?hl=en

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“A true artist is not one who is inspired, but one who inspires others.” ~ Salvador Dali

That, in short, sums up the stupendous journey undertaken by banker turned artist Ritesh Singla in pursuit of his passion for art. Determined to make a difference with his exceptional creativity and unique artistic sensibility, Ritesh burst into the art scene with the launch of his foremost venture called resinandritesh on 1st January 2021. The brand strives to capture the elegance and versatility of resin geode art through stunning, life-size art pieces. Ritesh’s strength lies in geode art.

What it’s all about

The startup aims to make resin art accessible and exciting so that every individual feels inspired to take up this artform without getting intimidated by its immensity. Ritesh takes as much pride in teaching the intricacies of resin art as in making some of the most stunning resin art creations. He’s well in his elements while remodeling the look of natural rock formations or creating some abstract structures with crushed glass, crystals and tinted resin, adding glitter and paint for an extravagant finish.

Time for a new beginning

Ritesh’s tryst with colors, creativity and art began during the tough times of the Covid pandemic when many of us were beginning to rethink and reshape our life’s priorities. Having been a professional banker for two decades, Ritesh wanted to do something more fulfilling. Instead of chasing money, he wanted to chase his long-cherished dream of becoming an artist. At a time when people were losing their jobs due to Covid, he took a brave decision of quitting his stable, high-paying job at the age of 48 to give his dream a chance. Thus, with an initial investment of 15 lakhs, Ritesh began to work on his startup, resinandritesh.

Dare to be different!

resinandritesh is not driven by commercial success. It’s driven by love and devotion towards art. Perhaps that explains the selective and unique nature of its products which are starkly different from other resin art products available in the market. The Gurgaon-based startup provides shipping services all over India.

The dedicated artist that he is, Ritesh says yes only to those products and projects that offer something challenging, out-of-the-box and extraordinary. He has crafted beautiful coasters, classy tabletops, 3d art installations using the timeless magic of resin art. The floral resting table made of resin and dry flowers in gloss finish are sure to catch your attention.

The Instagram page of resinandritesh gives a sneak peek into its founder’s extraordinary creations. The gorgeous resin door stands out for its stylish, exquisite look that’s as unique as it gets. The bright and beautiful pair of angel wings is all set to infuse life into dull, ordinary walls, thus transforming the whole ambience of the room. Moreover, you can consider decking up the walls with colossal geodes for a grand and glorious appearance.

Glimpse of the future

The plan is to expand the brand such that it is counted as one of the topmost names in the country for resin geode art products. Ritesh wants his products to be an essential part of people’s lives, maybe as a wall hanging in their homes, creative furniture in their offices or something else that’s fresh and innovative.

Besides serving more than 100 customers, Ritesh has taught around 500 to 800 students across India. That eagerness to share his knowledge and make others fall in love with the process of creation is what makes Ritesh and his startup stand out from the rest. In fact, his boundless passion for art has inspired him to explore and experiment and come up with art pieces that you’ve probably never seen before.

To know more visit – http://www.resinandritesh.com/

https://www.instagram.com/resinandritesh/

https://www.facebook.com/ritesh.singla.3511

You can get in touch with Ritesh on +91 9654444338

To read more Startup Stories on The Business Press, visit – https://www.thebusinesspress.in/